The Bahamas spans over 700 islands and 2,000 cays, yet a single week can take you from the floating conch shacks of Bimini to the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay — if you plan the moves right.
This seven-day itinerary runs a triangle across three distinct islands: Bimini, Nassau on New Providence, and Great Exuma. You’ll start with a ferry from Fort Lauderdale, hop two short inter-island flights, and end up at one of the world’s best beaches. The route is designed for first-time visitors who want to see the Bahamas beyond a single resort without spending a fortune on private charters.
This itinerary works best if you’re comfortable with three separate travel legs (ferry + two flights) and book everything well ahead. The payoff is access to three completely different Bahamian experiences — from the laid-back fishing vibe of Bimini to the mega-resort energy of Paradise Island to the wild cays of the Exumas. The biggest caveat: inter-island flights have very limited capacity, so flexibility on dates is essential.
First-time visitors
Families with kids 8+
Active travellers
| Island | Highlights | Best For | Key Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bimini | Radio Beach, Honeymoon Harbour stingrays, Hemingway haunts | Beach lovers, anglers | Book the ferry midweek — fares run ~$50 lower than Friday or Sunday |
| Nassau & Paradise Island | Atlantis Aquaventure, Queen’s Staircase, Arawak Cay Fish Fry | Families, history buffs | Atlantis day passes sell out — reserve ahead on the official site or app |
| Great Exuma | Swimming pigs, Compass Cay nurse sharks, Thunderball Grotto | Wildlife lovers, snorkelers | Take the 6:50 AM Bahamasair flight to George Town — arrives in time for the pig tour |
Bimini — Days 1 & 2: Ferry Start & Island Rhythm
The trip begins not at an airport but at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Baleària Caribbean runs a morning ferry that reaches Bimini in about two hours, with one-way fares from $115 plus tax. Check-in closes 90 minutes before departure, so an arrival by 7:30 AM is wise for the roughly 9:00 AM sailing. Round trips run from about $230 plus tax per person.
Once you clear customs, a $15 taxi ride gets you to Alice Town. Radio Beach, the main stretch of sand on North Bimini, offers chair rentals for $10 and calm turquoise water that stays shallow for yards out. Lunch at Stuart’s Conch Stand is the quintessential Bimini stop — fresh conch salad scooped from a cooler, served with a plastic fork and a view of the harbour. Afternoon hours are best spent roaming Alice Town’s narrow streets, where Ernest Hemingway once wrote and drank, and where the pastel-painted buildings still lean toward the sea.
Day 2 starts with breakfast at Captain Bob’s, where the johnny cakes are the local staple. A morning boat tour to Honeymoon Harbour runs about $60 per person and includes swimming with stingrays in shallow, clear water. After lunch, rent a golf cart for roughly $80 a day and explore the northern end of the island. The water taxi from North Bimini to South Bimini Airport takes about 30 minutes total (ferry plus short cab ride). Western Air operates the only nonstop Bimini–Nassau flight, a 30-minute hop with roughly eight departures a week, typically between 10:20 AM and 3:20 PM. Fares start around $198 one-way.
Bimini needs only one overnight — arrive on the morning ferry, enjoy the afternoon and next morning, then catch the afternoon flight to Nassau. Staying a second night eats into Nassau time without adding much new.
Nassau & Paradise Island — Days 3, 4 & 5: Resorts, History & a Blue Lagoon
Western Air’s Bimini–Nassau flight lands at Lynden Pindling International Airport around midafternoon. From there, it’s a short taxi to your base on either Cable Beach or Paradise Island. The next three days balance resort time with downtown exploration and one offshore excursion.
Day 3 belongs to Atlantis Aquaventure. Non-guest day passes must be bought in advance through the Atlantis website or app, and daily quantities are capped — many dates sell out, especially around spring break and holidays. Pricing is seasonal, from roughly $195 per adult (13+) and $95 per child (4–12), rising past $250 on peak dates. Children three and under enter free. The pass covers the water park, resort pools (except The Cove), the beach, and the Dig aquarium with its Predator Tunnel. If the day-pass dates look tight, a single overnight at the resort includes access and often costs about the same as two adult day passes.
Atlantis day passes for non-guests are capped daily and frequently sell out on holiday weekends and during spring break. If you’re visiting between mid-March and April, book your pass at least three weeks ahead or consider staying one night at the resort to guarantee access.
Day 4 shifts to downtown Nassau. The Queen’s Staircase — 66 steps carved from limestone by enslaved workers in the 1790s — leads up to Fort Fincastle, where the harbour views justify the climb. Parliament Square’s pink colonial buildings line Bay Street, and the Straw Market sells handmade crafts. Lunch at Arawak Cay, the local fish fry, means outdoor stalls serving fried snapper, conch salad, and cold Sands beer at about half the price of resort restaurants. Cable Beach, a long stretch of white sand with calm water, offers jet-ski rentals and glass-bottom boat tours for the afternoon. Evening options range from the casino at Baha Mar to a quiet dinner at a Graycliff restaurant.
Day 5 is an excursion day to Blue Lagoon Island, a private island a short boat ride from Nassau. Dolphin encounters and beach access start from roughly $189 per person. It’s a half-day trip that leaves the afternoon free for packing and an early bedtime — the next morning’s flight to Exuma departs at 6:50 AM.
Great Exuma — Days 6 & 7: Pigs, Sharks & a World-Class Beach
The 6:50 AM Bahamasair flight from Nassau to George Town, Great Exuma, takes about 45 minutes and lands at 7:35 AM. Round-trip fares typically run $180–$250. Bahamasair operates two daily flights on this route — the early departure is the one you want, because it puts you on Great Exuma in time for a full-day pig tour.
Shared full-day boat tours from Great Exuma run $275–$400 per person, including lunch and multiple stops. Most operators depart from Barraterre Dock, about a 55-minute drive north of George Town — check whether transfers are included when you book. The tour sequence follows a well-worn route through the Exuma Cays, and each stop is distinct.
The pigs swim out to meet boats as they arrive. Only feed them what the operator provides — the pigs are fed on a schedule, and crews ask visitors not to bring their own snacks. Early arrival before the Nassau day-trip boats means a quieter experience. Time on site: about 45 minutes.
A marina where nurse sharks gather in shallow, clear water. They are generally calm and considered the least aggressive tropical shark species, but they are wild animals — follow the crew’s instructions, avoid sudden movements, and never touch them while food is handled. Time on site: about 30 minutes.
A private sandbar in knee-deep water with turquoise sea in every direction. Grilled lunch is included. You’ll have time to swim and float before the next stop. Time on site: about an hour.
A sea cave where sunlight pours through limestone openings, lighting schools of tropical fish. The site was used in the James Bond films Thunderball (1965) and Never Say Never Again (1983). Your skipper will time the visit for slack tide, when entry is easiest. Snorkel gear is provided. Time on site: about 30 minutes.
Bahamian rock iguanas, an endangered species protected under the Wild Animals Protection Act, bask on the shore. Keep your distance — handling and feeding are prohibited, and the Bahamas National Trust actively monitors the site. Your guide will set the rules. Time on site: about 20 minutes.
The boat returns to George Town around 5:30 PM. Sunset drinks at one of the harbour-facing bars cap the day. On the final morning, head to Tropic of Cancer Beach, a long stretch of white sand consistently ranked among the world’s best. It’s about a 15-minute drive from George Town. After a few hours on the sand, fly back to Nassau and connect to your international departure.
The full-day Exuma tour runs rain or shine unless a storm warning is in effect. Bring cash for tips — many operators expect gratuities for the crew at the end of the day, and ATMs on Great Exuma are limited.
Planning Your Bahamas Island Hopping Trip
Three separate travel legs mean three opportunities for something to go sideways. The most reliable window for this itinerary is December through April, when dry-season weather keeps ferry cancellations rare and inter-island flights on schedule. May and November offer similar weather with roughly 30% lower prices. August through October carries the highest hurricane risk, and ferry cancellations, while not common, are more likely during that period.
Budget Breakdown
Per-person costs for this itinerary break into three tiers. The figures below exclude international flights to Fort Lauderdale or Nassau.
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total per person | $1,800 | $2,800 | $4,800+ |
| Transport (ferry + flights) | $550 | $700 | $1,000 |
| Accommodation (6 nights) | $600 | $2,000 | Varies |
| Activities (tours, passes) | $900 | ~$1,000 | ~$1,500+ |
Staying in Alice Town on Bimini instead of at Resorts World saves $100–$150 a night. In Nassau, Margaritaville Beach Resort downtown (from ~$210/night) is walkable to Junkanoo Beach and Bay Street, while Cable Beach resorts like Baha Mar start around $320/night. On Exuma, Peace & Plenty Resort in George Town (from ~$180/night) is a classic Bahamian property where boat tours often pick up guests directly from the hotel dock.
Inter-island flight capacity is genuinely limited. Western Air’s Bimini–Nassau route has roughly eight flights a week — if you miss yours, the next one may not leave until the following day. Book all flights as soon as your dates are firm, and consider travel insurance covering weather-related disruptions if you’re travelling between June and November.
Before You Go — Bahamas Island Hopping
Do I need a passport for this itinerary?
Yes. U.S. citizens need a valid U.S. passport booklet — not a passport card — for the ferry to Bimini and for inter-island flights. Six months of validity beyond your return date is recommended by the State Department and many airlines.
Can I do this trip with young kids?
Yes, but consider the pace. Kids under five will enjoy the swimming pigs and Atlantis water park, but the early-morning flight to Exuma and the long boat tour may be tiring. A five-day version skipping Bimini and spending extra time in Nassau works better for toddlers.
Is the ferry from Fort Lauderdale ever cancelled?
A handful of times a year, the Baleària ferry is cancelled due to rough seas. Swimming pigs tours operate rain or shine unless a storm warning is active. Building flexibility into your itinerary — refundable hotel rates, a buffer day — is wise, especially June through November.
Can I skip Bimini and go straight to Nassau?
Absolutely. A five-day version works: fly direct to Nassau (two nights), then Exuma (two nights), then home. You lose the ferry experience and the Hemingway vibe, but you gain a more relaxed schedule and one fewer travel leg.
How much cash should I bring?
U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere, but bring small bills. Taxi drivers, tour tips, and smaller food stalls often don’t take cards. Plan on $100–$150 in cash per person for the week, supplemented by a credit card for hotels and larger purchases.
The Bahamas in Seven Moves
The ferry from Fort Lauderdale, the short flights over turquoise banks, and the boat ride past iguanas and nurse sharks — each leg of this itinerary is a distinct piece of what makes the Bahamas more than a single-resort destination. By the time you’re walking Tropic of Cancer Beach on the final morning, the week will feel like three separate vacations folded into one. For more on the islands you’ll visit, check out our guide to Bitter Guana Cay and its endangered iguana colony — a side trip that pairs naturally with the Exuma tour.
References
Bahamas Shopping. “Bahamas Island Hopping Itinerary.” Bahamas Shopping, 2026. ↗
Yacht With Us. “Bahamas Island Hopping Guide: Costs, Itineraries, Where to Stay.” Yacht With Us, 2025. ↗
Tripnologia. “7-Day Bahamas Itinerary.” Tripnologia, 2025. ↗
Destination Magazines. “Island Hopping in the Bahamas: The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Paradise.” Destination Magazines, 2025. ↗
For more Bahamas trip planning, browse our guides to Fortune Beach, snorkeling at Love Beach, and the Rum Runners’ route through Bahamian history — each one adds a layer to what you’ll see on this week-long loop.
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